SpaceNavigator in Linux: How to configure with Blender?
First you need to install Spacenav, which I've found works very simply.


Install 'spacenav', I expect most Linux distros would have a package for this.
Run sudo spacenavd -v -d
Run blender, the 3D mouse will be detected, and printed in the terminal.




spacenavd can run automatically as a service but to begin with just execute in a terminal.

See spavenav's site, it has general info. I followed the Arch Linux 3D Mouse Instructions to get this working.